Tape dispenser



March 10, Q Q ALLISS TAPE DISPENSER Filed July 22, 1940 *Twill 27a/@Zion(r (gis:

.I PCW WML iat'enteci Mar. 10, 1942 TAPE DISPENSER Charles C. Alliss,St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company,St.,Paul, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Application July 22, 1940,Serial No. 346,742

Claims.

This invention relates broadly to apparatus for dispensing adhesive tapefrom a roll in usable condition and in desired lengths, and moreparticularly to a device for dispensing rolls of adhesive tape of anature such that temporary adhesion between the successive layers of thetape in the roll will normally prevent the tape from unrolling except bythe act of the user.

The invention is of considerable utility in dispensing adhesive tapehaving a thin flexible backing of fabric, paper or non-fibrous materialand provided with a normally tacky and pressuresensitive adhesivecoating, which does not require moistening with water or other solventsto activate the coating to an adhesivecondition, such tapes, forexample, as are disclosed in the Richard G. Drew Patents Nos. 1,760,820and 2,177,627. Tapes of this type are characterized by having a unifiedadhesive coating possessed of such coherence in relation to itsadhesiveness and so firmly united to its backing that the adhesive tapemay be stripped from smooth nonfibrous surfaces (not possessing specialchemical aiiinity for the adhesive) to which it may have beentemporarily applied, without offsetting ofv adhesive material to suchsurfaces. While the present invention relates broadly to dispensing ofadhesive tapes of a pressure-sensitive type, the dispenser hereindescribed has been developed with special reference topressure-sensitive adhesive tapes of the non-oisetting type.

Adhesive tape of the type described is commonly marketed in roll formwound upon a core, and a principal object of the invention resides inthe provision of a dispensing device from which the spent tape core canbe readily removed and a fresh roll of adhesive tape inserted. In manydispensers known to the art the device is adapted to dispense but oneroll of tape and is discarded thereafter, since no provision is made forremoving the spent core. A further object of the invention is theprovision of an adhesive tape dispenser which is simple and economicalof construction and in which the free end of the undispensed portion ofthe tape is held out away from the roll where it may be readily graspedfor removal of the next portion without having to pry it loose from theroll; and the provision of a light weight dispenser for adhesive tape,which is readily portable and remains erect on a nat surface and fromwhich a portion of tape may be removed by holding the dispenser with onehand and grasping the readily available end portion of the tape stripwith the other.

The improved tape dispensing device ispreferably stamped from a singlesheet of metal or stiif cellulosic material, or the device may be in asingle casting of any of the modern plastic materials adapted to formthin semi-flexible sheet members. In general, the device comprisessuitably spaced parallel side frames, provided with oppositely disposedflange portions adapted to support a roll of adhesive tape, and basemembers connected to the side frames provided with releasable catchmembers adapted to releasably retain the side frames in parallelposition and to permit the spreading of the side frames to remove spentcores and insert new rolls of adhesive tape on the ange portions. Theside frames are connected by a front member equipped along its upperportion with a severing edge and a member adapted to detachably retain aportion of the adhesive tape during and after the severing of the tape.

The invention will be readily understood from the following detaileddescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which apreferred embodiment of the invention is shown, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a broken top plan view of the dispenser (with the roll'of taperemoved) and in which the dotted lines show the side frames in theirspread position;

Fig. 2, a vertical sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of Fig. 1,showing the device containing a roll of adhesive tape to be dispensed;

Fig. 3, a vertical sectional View taken along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 2,and

Fig. 4, a view in elevation of a blank from which the dispensing devicemay be formed.

Referring now to Fig. 4 of the drawing, wherein is shown a blank 5preferably stamped from a single sheet metal strip and from which thedispensing device shown in Figs. l-3 may readily be formed, the blankcomprises two side portions 6 and I connected by a bridge portion 8,adapted to serve as the front of the device, and which is provided witha portion 9 having a severing edge I0 which is conveniently serrated orformed of a plurality of sharp points or teeth as shown in Figs. 1 and4. The side members 6 and I are provided, respectively, with ilapmembers I I and I2 adapted to serve as base members. The member I2 isprovided along the rear edge thereof with a stud I3 preferably punchedtherein during the stamping operation. The member II is equipped with abifurcated portion I4 for a purpose hereinafter more fully described.

The blank 5 is formed over a suitable die yso that the side members 6and 1 may be bent, re-

spectively, into a position where they are normally disposed in aparallel spaced relation as shown in Fig. 1. Members II and I2 arelikewise adapted to be bent along the dotted lines IIa, I2a, to formbase members, substantially perpendicular to the side members 6 and 1,and in overlying relationship in which base member I2 is uppermost, asmost clearly shown in Fig. 1. The edge portions of the sides 6 and 1 arepreferably rolled, as shown by the dotted lines 6a and 1a, to reinforcethe edges and eliminate sharp edges along the sides.

The annularA edge portions surrounding the openings 6b and 1b in theside members 6 and 1 are stamped to form inwardly projecting annularflanges I and I 6, respectively, oppositely disposed to each other,which actas spindles for a roll of tape I1, shown in Figs. 2 and 3,wound on a hollow core I8. The upper portion 9 of the bridge member 8 isbent along the line 3a shown in Fig. 4 to form a substantiallyhorizontal tape supporting surface between the serrated edge I0 and theroll of tape I1. The ribs IS extending from the side members 6 and 1across the bridge member 8 act as reinforcing means to impart rigidityto the device and to hold the portions of the device in the desiredrelative positions.

As previously mentioned herein, the device is provided with suitablecatch members adapted to maintain the side members 6 and 'I in spacedrelationship such that the tape roll I1 is retained on the flanges. I5and I6 when the device is in its operable position and to permit lateralspreading of the side members 6 and 1 by pivotal movement from theirjunctures with said bridge member indicated by the' dotted lines 8a and8b in Fig. 4, to permit removal and replacement of tape rolls within thedevice. Suitable releasable catch members are shown in the drawing, andmodifications of the specific construction shownwithin the scope of theinvention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. As shown inFigs. 1, 3 and 4, one of the base members I2, which preferably overliesthe other base member II, is provided with an upwardly extending studI3, which may be formed therein during the stamping operation. Theunderlying base member II is provided along its rearward edge 20 with abent over bifurcated ange portion Il. The portion 2I ofthe flange I4 isbent over until it is in close proximity to the upper surface of thebase member I2 and serves as a stop for the stud I3 when the device isin its expanded position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, and therebyprevents unlimited expansion of the side members 6 and 1. The portion 26of the flange I4 is not bent over as far as the portion 2I and is spacedslightly from the upper surface of the base member I2 and the resilientnature of the material permits passage of the stud I3 between the flangeportion 26 and the base I2. The length of the flange portion 26 ispredetermined so that its inner edge 22 engages the stud I3 in theclosed operative position of the device and, due to the resilient basemember I2 being sprung slightly upwardly at its outer edge, the stud I3carried thereon engages the edge 22 of the flange portion 26. Likewise,it will be noted that the outer edge 23 of the flange portion 2I bearsagainst the inner surface of the side wall 'I and thus tends toreleasably retain the side members 6 and 1 in their operative parallelposition.

The flanges I5 and I6, adapted to serve as *Y spindles for the tape coreI8, may conveniently be approximately one-eighth inch in Width and,accordingly, it will be seen that it is only necessary that the spreadposition of the side members 6 and 1 be one-half inch greater than thedistance between the side members in the closed position to permit readyremoval and replacement of the tape roll I1.

In operation, to place a roll of tape on the spindle members I5 and I6,it is only necessary to grasp the rear edge portions of the side members6 and 1 and lightly draw them apart, since the stud member may bereadily forced from engagement with the edge 22 of the flange 26 shownin Figs. l and 3 and through the channel afforded beneath the angeportion to permit radial spreading of the side members Ii and 1.to the'-is retained by the engagement of the stud I3 against the edge 22 of theflange I4. The core I: is then supported by annular spindles I5 and I Towithdraw a portion of the tape 24 from the roll I1, the free end of thetape is drawn away from the roll I1 with the adhesive coated surfacefacing downwardly and, as shown in Fig. 2, pulls away from the roll atsubstantially a uniform angle due to the temporary adhesion between thepressure-sensitive adhesive coated side of the tape and the back of theunderlying layer in the roll. 'I'he free end of the tape 24 then passesfrom the roll over the surface 9 and the cutting edge I0. When a portionof tape of the desired length has been removed from the roll, by merelybringing the tape downward it will rst contact the surface 9 and be heldin position by the adhesive action of the pressure-sensitive coating ofthe tape upon the surface 3; a further downward movement of the free endof the tape causes the tape to come into contact with the severing edgeI0, and the dispensed portion is thus severed. Subsequent portions ofthe tape may be successively removed by grasping the portion 24 betweenthe supporting surface 9 and the tape roll, lifting the tape slightlyand again removing the desired portion by pulling upon the free end ofthe tape. Furthermore, when a portion of tape has been removed, the freeend is retained in position by the adhesive action of the coating of thetape on the surface 9. As shown in Fig. 2, a groove or trough 25 may beformed in the supporting member 9. As the tape is dispensed and severedby the edge I0, any excess of adhesive removed during the severingoperation is deposited in the groove 25 and thus prevents fouling of thesevering edge I0. Any accumulation of adhesive in the groove 25 may beremoved from time-to time, thus'the teeth of the cutting edge I0 arekept clean.

While the above description has been made particularly with reference tothe use of the dispenser structure in connection with pressuresensitiveadhesive tape, yet the dispensing device is obviously capable of beingused with strip material formed into rolls regardless of whether thematerial is provided with an adhesive coating and regardless of thenature of the adhesive coating where used.

I claim:

1. A devicefor dispensing adhesive tape of the pressure-sensitive typecomprising a front and two side members formed from a single piece ofsheet material, said side members being provided with means forrevolubly supporting a roll of said tape, a severing element mounted onsaid front member and spaced from said roll supporting means, saidsevering element including a cutting edge and an exposed surface,positioned adjacent the path of said tape between said roll supportingmeans and said cutting edge, to which said tape Will lightly anddetachably adhere by reason of its pressure-sensitive coating, said sidemembers being normally positioned in spaced relationship and adapted tobe spread radially from their junctures with the front member, to permitremoval and replacement of said tape roll` and releasable catch membersadapted to retain said side members in normal spaced relationship andpermit limited spreading thereof.

2. A device for dispensing adhesive tape comprising two side membersnormally positioned in spaced relationship, a bridge member connectingsaid side members at one end thereof, said members being formed offlexible sheet material, means within said side members adapted torevolubly support a roll of adhesive tape, a tape severing edge mountedon said bridge member and spaced from said roll supporting means, saidside members being adapted to .be spread laterally to permit the removaland replacement of tape rolls on said roll supporting means. basemembers secured to said side members, and releasable catch members onsaid base members adapted to retain said side members in operativeposition and to limit the lateral spreading of said side members.

3. A device for dispensing a roll of adhesive tape, comprising two sidemembers normally positioned in spaced relationship slightly more thanthe width, of said tape roll, a bridge member connecting said sidemembers, annular flanges on the inside surface of said side membersadapted to support revolubly said roll of tape, the distance between theinner edges of said flanges being less than the width of said tape roll,a severing edge mounted on said bridge member and spaced from saidannular anges, said side members being adapted to be manually spreadlaterally from their `iuncture with said bridge member to permit removaland replacement of said tape roll, a pair of base members disposed oneabove the other and connected to said side members, and releasable catchmembers carried at the rear of said base members adapted to retain saidside members in normal relationship and permit limited lateral spreadingof said side members.

4. A device for dispensing adhesive tape of the pressure-sensitive typecomprising a front and two side members, said side members beingprovided with means for revolubly supporting a roll of said tape, asevering element mounted on said front member and spaced from said rollsupporting means, said severing element including a tape cutting edgeand an exposed surface positioned adjacent the-path of said tape betweensaid roll supporting means and said cutting edge, to which said tapewill lightly and detachably adhere by reason of its pressure-sensitivecoating, said side members being normally positioned in spacedrelationship and adapted to be spread laterally to permit replacement ofsaid tape roll, base members secured to said side members, and

means attached to said base members for releasably retaining said sidemembers in spaced parallel relationship and for permitting limitedlateral spreading thereof.

5. A device for dispensing adhesive tape comprising a pair of sidemembers interconnected by a bridge member and adapted to be spreadradially from their junctures with said bridge member, a pair of basemembers each connected to one of said side members, said side members,bridge member and base members. being formed from a single blank offlexible sheet metal, means within said side members for supportingrevolubly a roll of said tape, a severing edge mounted on said bridgemember, and means adapted to releasably retain said side members innormal parallel relationship and to limit the radial expansion of saidmembers, said means comprising a stud orione of said base members, ailange on the other of said base members forming a channel for said studand an abutment on said second mentioned base member adapted to limitthe movement of said stud in said channel.

6. A device for dispensing adhesive tape comprising a pair of spacedside member interconneoted by a bridge member and adapted to be spreadlaterally from their Junctures with said bridge member, a pair of basemembers each connected to one of said side members, said side members,bridge member and base members being formed from a single blank offlexible sheet metal, means within said side members for supportingrevolubly a roll of said tape, a severing edge mounted on said bridgemember, and means adapted to releasably retain said side members innormal parallel relationship and to limit the radial lateral spreadingof said members, said means comprising a stud formed on the uppersurface of the upper base member near the rear edge thereof, a flangemember on the rear edge of said bottombase member and overlying saidupper base member and forming a channel for said stud member, and asecond ilange member carried on the rear edge of said lower base memberand overlying said upper base member and adapted to serve as a stop forsaid stud member and adapted to linrit the movements of said sidemembers toward'each other.

7. A device for dispensing adhesive tape comprising a pair of spacedside members connected by a bridge member and adapted to be spreadlaterally from their junctures with said bridge member, a pair of basemembers each connected to one of said side members, means within saidside members for supporting revolubly a roll of said tape, a severingedge mounted on said bridge member, and means adapted to releasablyretain said sidemembers in normal parallel relationship and to limit theradial spread of said members, said means comprising a stud member onthe upper surface of said upper base member, and a bifurcated flangemember carried on the rear edge of said lower base member and overlyingthe rear portion of said upper base member, one portion of said flangeforming a channel lfor said stud, the other portion of said flangeserving as a stop for said stud and being adapted to limit the movementof said side members .toward each other.

8. A device for dispensing. adhesive tape comprising a pair of sidemembers interconnected by a bridge member and adapted to be `spreadlaterally from their junctures with said bridge member, a pair of basemembers each connected to one of said side members, means within saidside members for supporting revolubly a roll of and overlying the rearportion of said upper base member, one edge of said flange serving as anabutment for said stud in the closed position of said side members, oneportion of said ange forming a channel for said stud, the other porltion of said iiange serving as a stop for said stud in the expandedposition of lsaid side members.

9. A ldevice for dispensing adhesive tape cornprising two side membersnormally positioned in spaced relationship and provided with means forsupporting a roll of said tape, a bridge member connecting said sidemembers, said side members being adapted to be spread radially fromtheir junctures with their bridge member torpermit removal andreplacement of said tape roll, and releasable catch members carried onsaid side members to retainsaid side members in normal spacedrelationship and permit limited spreading thereof.

10. A device for dispensing adhesive tape comprising two side membersnormally positioned in spaced relationship, a bridge member connectingsaid side members, means within said side members adapted to support aroll of said adhesive tape, said side members adapted to be spreadlaterally to permit the removal and re placement of tape rolls on saidroll supporting means, ange members secured to said side members, andreleasable catch members on said ange members adapted to retain saidside members in operative position and to limit the lateral spreading ofsaid side members.

CHARLES C. ALLISS.

